Weather permitting there is a tough test in store for the Hamlet this afternoon as they go head to head with form team Hampton.

After a mixed start to the season that saw the Beavers languishing in the boondocks of the Premier Division, the club have been steadily nibbling their way up the table thanks in part to goals of returning hero Dave Tarpey and the prolific Charlie Moone. Free scoring forward Tarpey had been part of the controversial set up at Farnborough Town where he was saddled with the moniker of Diego Maradona when the Hampshire club became something of an Aunt Sally in football circles after their tie up with bookmaker Paddy Power that almost saw that club laughed out of existence. However, it was the Beavers laughing when they snapped up their former striker at the turn of the year when Farnborough decided he was surplus to requirements. No Maradona perhaps but after waiting ten days to make his debut after Christmas, Tarpey was swiftly back in the saddle with a brace of goals against lowly Carshalton Athletic last Saturday, setting up another for good measure as the Beavers made it three wins on the spin and six unbeaten. The Beavers have netted 17 goals in that time to turn the year in fine form.

If the opposition had not been of the highest quality then Hampton’s previous brace of wins had marked them out as serious contenders for a shot at the promotion places. On Boxing Day, their victims at the Beveree had given their fans the perfect post-Christmas hangover cure with a rampant victory over highflying Kingstonian. Hero of the quarter hero was Charlie Moone who bagged a hat trick inside 15 minutes to leave the second place K’s shell-shocked and taking the hitman’s impressive tally of goals to 25 in all competition. Two days later and the Beavers were on the road to leaders Wealdstone, the momentum of victory not lost as they recovered from Sean Cronin's early penalty for the hosts, silencing the Stones as Moone once more found the net aided and abetted by strikes form Tom Hickey and Joe Turner. Unsurprisingly that outstanding victory over has brought them the award of the December Performance of the Month Award from the Ryman League.

Speaking to the Kingston Guardian Hampton & Richmond Borough’s Paul Barry, who shares the managerial duties with former Crystal Palace centre half Darren Powell had praise for the Hamlet’s style of football but was adamant he would do nothing to counter them by changing his team’s pattern of play to suit the opposition.

“They knock the ball around and I would pay good money to watch Erhun Otzumer every week, but we are not going to do anything special to counter them,” he said.

“It would be doing our players a disservice to say we are aiming to nullify them.”

Hampton are set to be without Tom Hickey for around six weeks as he recovers from a broken nose suffered at the weekend.

However, despite his loss being a blow, Barry was confident of his side extending its good run.

“We’re not playing all that differently to earlier in the season, it is just we are taking our chances,” he added.

“Tarpey and Ben will hopefully take the pressure off Charlie Moone now. We’ve got on a good run before and long may this one continue.”

This afternoon’s game kicks-off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD. Please note that there will be a pitch inspection at 10 am after the heavy rain of late. Once a decision is made, information will be posted.

The turnstiles will be open from 12.45pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. As a healthy crowd is expected, why not avoid the rush late and relax. Before the game why not enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles?

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (UB40, Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £1.50